Data Refresh: Manual versus Automatic

If you have permission, you can save a report either to be manually or automatically refreshed. If you have questions about your authorization, contact your system administrator. The following table explains the consequences of each option.
Comparison of Refresh Options in the Save As Dialog Box
Refresh Option Selected in the Save As Dialog Box
Consequences
Data is automatically refreshed
A large report might take a long time to open. However, it takes less time to save a large report.
When the report is opened (and any required prompts are answered), the report automatically includes the most current data in the underlying data source that the viewer is authorized to see.
Data can be manually refreshed1
A large report that contains a lot of data might open more quickly. However, a large report might take a long time to save.
The data that is shown in the report is updated to match the underlying data source only when the report viewer requests a refresh. Selecting Refresh Data in one section refreshes data in all report sections.
While viewing the report, users can perform certain actions only after they have refreshed the data. For example, the report viewer would apply a filter to a crosstabulation table after the report has been refreshed with data.
The report can be archived by authorized users.
1Reports that are pregenerated on a schedule are also manually refreshed. (Not all report authors are authorized to schedule or refresh reports.)